Chicago Cooks - upcoming events

Cooking That's Kind to the Earth and Your Wallet

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 12:00:00 GMT

(Jul 8 7:00 PM)

With food prices skyrocketing, many people are left wondering whether they can eat in a way that’s good for the earth without breaking the bank. As Chef Melissa Graham recently explained on ABC7, with careful shopping, smart cooking and some good old fashioned frugality, environmental and fiscal sustainability can happily coexist in your kitchen. Chef Melissa will explain where to find savings in the grocery aisles and demonstrate how to reduce waste through recycling, composting and a judicious use of leftovers. Finally, she will show how to minimize water waste and energy costs in your cooking. Best of all, you’ll learn to make several tasty recipes that are good for the earth without costing a fortune.

Hull House Soup Tuesdays

Thu, 29 May 2008 12:00:00 GMT

at the Jane Addams Hull House (Jul 8)

If you missed the grand re-opening of the Hull-House Kitchen on May 6 or the delicious conversations about Urban Agriculture, or the soup soap box last week with the Governor's task force on the Food, Farms and Jobs legislation- have no fear-we will gather every Tuesday to eat delicious, healthy soup and have fresh, organic conversation about many of the urgent social, cultural, economic, and environmental food issues facing us all.

Please join us in the historic Residents' Dining Hall, where Upton Sinclair, Ida B. Wells, W.E.B.DuBois, Gertrude Stein and other important social reformers met to share meals and ideals, debate one another, and conspire to change the world. Activists, farmers, doctors, economists, artists, and guest chefs will join us each week to present their ideas and projects.

Hands-On Cooking Class -- Ice Cream and Sorbets

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:00:00 GMT

(Jul 9 6:30 AM)

Wednesday, July 9, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Price: $45

Menu: Homemade Ice Cream, Granita and Sorbet using an assortment of local, fresh fruits

It’s July, and summer in Chicago is really starting to heat up. Chill down with some delicious homemade frozen desserts. Learn how to use an ice cream maker and create a fresh fruit sorbet with a food processor – it couldn’t be easier or tastier! We will have an array of summer fruits to flavor your frozen treats, depending on seasonality. Call 847-570-4140 to register.

Meet a Farmer & Sit for Supper Farm Dinners

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 12:00:00 GMT

at the Osteria Via Stato (Jul 9-Sep 30, 2008 6:30 PM)

An Old Italian proverb says that “April makes you sleep sweeter.” If that’s the case, our Farm Dinners—beginning in June and hosted every 2nd Wednesday of the month through the growing season—will be fully awake, vibrant, and ready for absolutely everything that the season has to bring to the table—including the farmer. We look forward to having you join us for a magical, rustic, family-style feast that supports local farmers and artisanal producers not by just eating local—but by actually meeting the farmer, shaking his hand and dining with him.

Girls’ Night Out: Bastille Day, featuring French Whites

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:00:00 GMT

(Jul 11 7:00 PM)

Wine Tasting and Food Pairing

Date: Friday, July 11, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Price: $45

Menu: Salad Lyonnaise of Poached Egg, Warm Bacon and Frisee; Seafood Crepe (Fruits de Mer); and Claufoti, a baked Cherry and Pudding Dessert, Served Warm

In celebration of this festive French holiday, we introduce you to delicate French white wines and the best food pairings. Now you can say “Bon Appetit!” – and really mean it! Call 847-570-4140 to register.

Being a Chef: Bastille Day in Provence- French Cooking Class

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:00:00 GMT

(Jul 12 10:00 AM)

$75 Members; $85 Non-Members

The rich Mediterranean flavors of olives, garlic, basil and goat cheese make this celebration meal easy to prepare and simply elegant. Recipes: Tapenade tartine; Grilled sea scallops with pesto on cracket wheat; Banon and mesclun salad; Olive oil cake with summer fruit garnish. Attendees are invited to tie on an apron and join in.

Cooking Basics for Young Adults, ages 18-25

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:00:00 GMT

(Jul 14 6:30 PM)

Grocery Store Tour

Date: Monday, July 14, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Price: $40/class, $120/series of 4 classes

When it comes to cooking, do you not know the difference between scallions and scallops? Honeydew and Mountain Dew? Don’t worry – you aren’t alone! Expand your culinary knowledge as we take a tour of the local grocery store, where we will teach participants how to select the best ingredients, how to read labels and how to get the most bang for your buck. Young adults between the ages of 18-25 sure don’t want to miss this one!

Please meet outside the main doors of Dominick’s on Green Bay Rd., and then we will head back to Now We’re Cookin’ together for discussion and to prepare a couple simple dishes using pantry items. Call 847-570-4140 to register.

Right Bite Dinner

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:00:00 GMT

at the Shaw's Crab House (Jul 14 6:00 PM)

Enjoy an extraordinary dinner at renowned Chicago-area restaurants and learn how your seafood choices can help protect our environment. We’ll indulge in sustainable seafood appetizers and entrées, dabble in desserts and hear from Shedd specialists about the latest happenings at the aquarium. Each restaurant will feature a unique environmentally friendly menu created just for this event.

Special thanks to Shedd’s Auxiliary Society, host of our Right Bite dinner series.

Each event is $75 per person.

Remaining dinners in the series are at
Shaw's Crab House – Monday, July 14
Naha – Monday, Sept. 8
Robert Morris College – Tuesday, Nov. 18

To register, please call 312-692-3123.